WEBVTT WESH 2'S MATT GRANT HAS THEEXCLUSIVE STORY.>> SO WHAT AM I COOKING TONIGHT?MATT: MAITLAND POLICE CHIEFDAVID MANUEL AND HIS OFFICERSARE ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT.>> PERFECT.MATT: PATROLLING PUBLIX FORGROCERIES.>> ANYTHING THAT HELPS YOU OUT,WE GOT YOU.MATT: THEY'RE DIGGING INTO THEIRWALLETS TO HELP AN 82-YEAR-OLDWOMAN WHO LOST EVERYTHING INHERS.POLICE SAY SHE WAS THE VICTIM OFA CON, TRICKED INTO GIVINGANONYMOUS CROOKS MORE THAN $700IN ITUNES GIFT CARDS.AND WAS THAT ALL THE MONEY YOUHAD?>> YES, IT PUT ME OVERDRAWN.I WAS ALREADY BROKE.>> IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO AREHAVING THEIR WHOLE LIFE SAVINGSJUST TOTALLY WIPED OUT IN AMATTER OF SECONDS.MATT: CHIEF MANUEL SAYS IT'S APROBLEM THEY'VE SEEN BEFORE. >> IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, IT'SDAILY IF NOT WEEKLY.MATT: WHICH IS WHY OFFICERSWANTED TO DO MORE THAN JUSTWRITE A REPORT, GIVING HER ARIDE IN THEIR PATROL CAR, MAKINGSURE HER CUPBOARDS ARE FULL,FULFILLING THEIR MISSION TOPROTECT AND SERVE.>> WE TAKE IT PERSONAL.YOU KNOW THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.,YOU KNOW EVERY DAY THERE'S SO, MUCH NEGATIVITY IN THIS STATE,COUNTRY, IN THE WORLD.IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKETHIS, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BITBETTER.>> SHE WAS JUST SO INNOCENT SHEHAD NO IDEA UNTIL THE BANK LETHER KNOW, AND I JUST WANTED TOHELP.TONY -- MATT: THIS REALLY STAYED WITHYOU? >> IT DID.MATT: AND THEIR GESTURE, HASSTAYED WITH THIS WOMAN, AFRAIDTO SHOW HER FACE BECAUSE SHELIVES ALONE.HER HUSBAND PASSED AWAY.SO THIS ACT OF KINDNESS MEANSEVERYTHING.I SEE YOU TEARING UP A BIT.>> YEAH, I'M NOT USED TSOMETHING LIKE THIS.

An 82-year-old Florida woman recently found herself in the back seat of a patrol car. But it’s not what you may think.

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Maitland police came to her rescue after she was the victim of a scheme that cost her everything.

“So, what am I cooking tonight?” asked Chief David Manuel, who helped patrol Publix for groceries. He and several officers are digging into their wallets to help a senior citizen who lost everything in hers. She was the victim of a con, police say, tricked into giving anonymous crooks more than $700 in iTunes gift cards.

“It put me overdrawn,” the woman, who did not want to be identified, said. “I was already broke.”

“It happens every day,” said Manuel. “People have their whole life savings wiped out in a matter of seconds.”

That is why Manuel and his officers wanted to do more than just write a report. They gave the woman a ride in their patrol car because she does not have transportation. They filled up her cart with groceries that they paid for. And they took her home and helped put everything away.

It’s part of their mission to protect and serve, Manuel said.

“We take it personal. This is our community,” he said. “Every day there’s so much negativity. If we can do something like this, it makes it a little bit better.”

Officer Andrew Moore, who has been on the force for eight years, wanted to help after meeting the woman. He approached the chief to see what they could do.

“She was just so innocent,” said Moore. “She had no idea until the bank let her know. And I just wanted to help.”

“This really stayed with you?” asked WESH 2 reporter Matt Grant.

“It did,” he said.

And their gesture stayed with the woman. She has lived alone since her husband, a military veteran, passed away. For her, this act of kindness means everything. She will get to eat until she receives Social Security next month. It also shows people care.

Sitting on her couch, after the officers left, her eyes began to tear up.

“I’m not used to something like this,” she said. “It means very much.”